The EPA award program recognizes personnel in the wastewater field who have provided invaluable operator training to wastewater treatment operators throughout New England. Since its inception in 1985, the Maine JETCC has been managed by the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission.

The Maine JETCC is comprised by numerous dedicated professionals from the public sector (e.g. municipal wastewater treatment plant operators, the Maine Dept. of Environmental Protection, the Maine Dept. of Health and Human Services, the Maine Wastewater Control Association, etc.) as well as others from the private sector. The Maine JETCC has been planning and developing relevant and timely wastewater training courses for wastewater treatment plant operators throughout the state of Maine. Ms Hanson has been doing an outstanding job coordinating all of JETCC’s many efforts and has always been in the forefront in improving JETCC’s course offerings to address new initiatives and technologies facing wastewater professionals. In addition, Leeann Hanson has always been proactive in providing interested and committed municipal wastewater operators appropriate management training and other necessary skills for personal improvement to succeed in the industry for the future.

“The professionals providing operator training to wastewater treatment plant operators play a crucial role in protecting public health by ensuring that our lakes and rivers are protected from unnecessary pollution,” said Curt Spalding, regional administrator for EPA's New England Office. "I am proud to acknowledge Ms Hanson’s outstanding contributions to help train municipal wastewater professionals so they may be able to better protect water quality and public health, as well as to keep Maine’s waterways clean.”

EPA’s New England office formally acknowledged Ms. Hanson’s outstanding contributions during the annual New England Water Environment Association Conference at the Boston Copley Marriott Hotel on January 26th. Ms. Hanson was nominated by a number of wastewater professionals in the state of Maine and in New England.